I am wondering whether I would be feeling like a grumpy old cow if I hadn’t read on twitter that today is #bluemonday.

But despite best intentions to keep the moody blues at bay this Winter, for one day only it seems that it has risen up and bitten me on the proverbial.

I’m a big advocate of listing gratitudes as a way of mindfulness, except that I usually do it in private, in a gorgeous black Liberty notebook that my lovely Sister gave me. Today I am going to do it publicly.

Here goes my ten.

I am grateful because….

• My gorgeous “it’s fine being nine” year old daughter got up today with such bounce and zest, got dressed and made her lunch without a care in the world and a massive smile. Mornings are so much more manageable like this!
• Pretty much all of my family are in good health considering their relative ages and lifestyles. (This is a regular gratitude but one that needs acknowledgement every time).
• My husband has gone for a job interview today and we are in a win / win situation. If he gets it, great. If he doesn’t, no problem. He doesn’t hate his job, he gets paid well and it affords us the time that we can balance our family.
• My little Fiat 500 did not break down whilst driving through that enormous puddle / flood in the road on the way into the office this morning. I am collecting an electric car on Wednesday (another reason to be cheerful) and I’m hoping that the new one will fair just as well in a puddle.
• That there is a beef stew in the slow cooker ready for when we all get home.
• That we have a real log fire in our living room that has provided comfort during these dark days.
• It’s the middle of January and my husband and I both have different pay days in the month so we aren’t scrimping towards the end of the month. He has been paid already.
• The front door that has been stuck shut for a week was fixed by the firm that fitted it, for free, even though it is three years outside of it’s guarantee.
• I have great work colleagues who are all working their socks off. Due to “what we do,” we are in one of our busiest times of the year. They are pulling together like troupers and have just bought donuts. And we fought battle with BT today and won.
• And lastly, I am grateful for living hygge, lunch hours, spontaneity and word press to release my inner creative being & doing something different away from the day job. A forum to gain perspective, rant, recover and carry on whilst meeting and making new friends in the process!

Thanks for reading!